People who have an overwhelming fear of being discriminated against — for anything from their gender to sexual orientation — have a higher chance of leaving their jobs.
According to a study published in the Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology journal, the constant need to "supress or conceal [your] identity" can have a negative impact in your personal satisfaction, which leads to increased turnover — and that costs companies money.
"The workplace is becoming a much more diverse place, but there are still some individuals who have difficulty embracing what makes them different, especially while on the job," says Michelle Hebl, co-author of the study and a professor of psychology at Rice University.
But when people "embrace their social identity in the workplace," their relationships with co-workers will improve as well.
"And quite often, what's good for the worker is good for the workplace," Hebl says. "The employees feel accepted and have better experiences with co-workers, which creates a positive working environment that may lead to decreased turnover and greater profits."